Responsible tourism is something that increasing numbers of people are considering when they are booking their holidays, and choosing an eco hotel is one way of minimizing the impact that tourism can have on the destination. This is especially important when you are visiting some of the most beautiful and unspoiled landscapes in the world, of which there are many worth seeing in South America. Whether you are looking for a mountain retreat or a riverside hideaway, there are eco hotels across the continent that are well worth visiting.


The Black Sheep Inn, Ecuador
This wonderful little hotel is to be found in the foothills of the Andes in Ecuador, to the south west of the city of Quito, and close to the Cotopaxi National Park. The Black Sheep is one of the most Eco friendly places in the country, and works with the people of the village to ensure that waste is almost unheard of here, while using energy efficient electrical goods and doing many jobs by hand to keep energy use down too.

The views from this wonderful location are truly superb, and it is a great place to relax and enjoy the magical surroundings. The lodge also has an excellent vegetarian restaurant which boasts some superb dishes, while still recycling all of the waste that is produced.

Estancia And Bodega Colome, Argentina
Located in the remote Molinos area of Argentina, the Estancia and Bodega Colome is not only an eco hotel, but is also one of the best wineries in the country, which makes it a wonderful place to enjoy a glass of wine with the evening meal.

This is a small but perfectly formed Eco hotel with seven suites that all have full access to the tennis courts, swimming pool and extensive hiking trails around the estate. Because of its remote location this hotel offers full board facilities, and all of the food waste is recycled, while the hotel also has its own water turbine for producing electricity.

Chalalan, Bolivia
One of the most beautiful locations for any eco hotel in the world has to be the Madidi National Park, which is in the upper Amazon basin in Bolivia. The hotel is located a short distance away from the great river, and is a wonderful place to enjoy hiking and animal spotting in the forests, as well as rafting and enjoying a boat trip on the Amazon. All of the windows in the hotel have been replaced with screens that help to develop a great feeling of unity with the natural world around the hotel, while the guides that are based in the hotel offer some superb experiences, including a magical night time wildlife tour.

All possible waste is minimized in the hotel and recycled where possible, while solar panels help to provide the electricity for the hotel.

Ecocamp Patagonia, Chile
Ecocamp Patagonia is located just a stone's throw away from the remarkable rock formations in the Torres Del Paine mountain range, with the plastic domes of the camp being almost as interesting as the sensational scenery. This is another hotel that is located in a remote area, and offers a great location for visitors who would normally only have the option to camp here, while the domes offer good food and sustainable accommodation. The energy that is used here is generated by solar panels, and there are also two wind turbines on site, while any waste that is produced that cannot be recycled is carried out of the park for processing.

For those who love hiking and climbing, the Torres Del Paine mountain range is a stunning place to explore, and the Ecocamp offers a great base from which to do this. They also have English speaking guides based in the camp who are also able to offer guided walks in the area.

Amazon Yarapa River Lodge, Peru
Located on the banks of the Amazon River, the Yarapa River Lodge is one of the most interesting places in Peru to explore the area surrounding the world's largest river. The lodge itself is built of sustainable renewable materials harvested from the surrounding forest, while the use of eco toilets and recyclable materials along with solar power all help to make this one of the greenest Eco hotels in the country. The lodge itself faces on to the river, and the land around this part of the Amazon is also a nature reserve, meaning that the guides in the lodge can offer stunning nature tours in and around the lodge.